What to Plant in April
April settles the Florida Zone 9 garden firmly into the warm season. Warm soil, longer days, and increasingly dependable temperatures make this an excellent month for beans, cucumbers, squash, melons, okra, southern peas, tomatoes, peppers, and many heat-loving flowers.
April at a Glance
The spring garden is growing quickly in April. Warm-season vegetables established in March begin filling their spaces, while another round of beans, cucumbers, squash, corn, melons, okra, and southern peas can still be planted. Tomatoes and peppers can settle into the garden, sweet potatoes can begin taking their place, and warm-weather flowers bring color and pollinators as temperatures rise.
Vegetables
April is a productive warm-season planting month in Florida Zone 9. Concentrate on crops that appreciate warm soil and increasingly warm days while keeping young plants watered as spring becomes hotter and drier.
Direct Sow in the Garden
Bush Beans
Sow directly into warm soil in raised beds, containers, or grow bags. A new succession can extend the bean harvest beyond the earliest spring planting.
Pole Beans
Direct sow beside a sturdy trellis or other vertical support. Pole beans make excellent use of limited growing space in a small garden.
Lima Beans
Sow directly in warm, well-drained soil. Give climbing varieties support and maintain even moisture while seedlings become established.
Cucumbers
Direct sow into a sunny garden location. Trellising can improve air circulation and keep sprawling vines from taking over a small raised bed.
Summer Squash
Sow directly into fertile, well-drained soil. Give plants enough space for good air movement and begin watching for insect pests as growth increases.
Winter Squash
Direct sow in full sun with room for vines to spread. Where space is limited, carefully guide vines away from garden paths and neighboring crops.
Sweet Corn
Sow directly in blocks rather than a single row to improve pollination. Keep the planting evenly watered as young corn begins rapid growth.
Okra
Sow directly into warm soil in full sun. April's rising temperatures suit this heat-loving crop, which will become increasingly vigorous as summer approaches.
Southern Peas
Direct sow black-eyed peas, cream peas, or other southern peas. These warm-season legumes handle Florida heat much better than traditional English peas.
Cantaloupe
Sow directly into warm soil with full sun. Provide adequate room for the vines and keep moisture consistent while plants establish.
Watermelon
Direct sow in a sunny location with generous room for vines. Containers require especially careful attention to moisture as April temperatures rise.
Peanuts
Plant directly into loose, well-drained soil. Avoid disturbing the soil around established plants later, because developing pegs must enter the ground to form peanuts.
Start for Transplanting Later
Tomatoes
Set healthy transplants into the garden while spring temperatures are favorable. Provide a cage, stake, or trellis early so roots are not disturbed after plants become larger.
Peppers
April warmth is well suited to pepper transplants. Plant them in full sun and keep the soil evenly moist while roots become established.
Tomatillos
Transplant into a sunny warm-season garden. Growing at least two compatible plants can improve pollination and fruit production.
Sweet Potatoes
Plant slips into warm, loose soil in raised beds, large containers, or grow bags. Give spreading vines enough room to grow as temperatures increase.
Collards
Young transplants can still be planted, although increasing heat will change how quickly plants grow and may increase insect pressure.
Roselle
Start or transplant roselle into a warm, sunny location with room to develop. This heat-loving plant becomes a strong performer as Florida moves toward summer.
Flowers
April offers many choices for warm-season color. Heat-tolerant annuals can be planted around raised beds, along garden edges, and in pots and containers to bring color and pollinator activity into the YardStead.
Direct Sow in the Garden
Zinnias
Sow directly into warm soil in full sun. Planting small successions through the season can help keep fresh flowers coming as older plants decline.
Cosmos
Direct sow in full sun and well-drained soil. Cosmos tolerate lean conditions and provide airy flowers that attract bees and butterflies.
Sunflowers
Sow directly where they will grow. Choose compact varieties for smaller spaces or taller varieties for a colorful garden backdrop.
Marigolds
Direct sow in sunny beds and containers. Their bright flowers fit easily among vegetables and other warm-season plantings.
Gomphrena
Sow into warm soil in full sun. Once established, gomphrena handles heat well and produces colorful globe-shaped flowers over a long season.
Balsam
Sow directly in warm soil where plants receive good light. Balsam grows easily from seed and brings old-fashioned color to the warm-season garden.
Start for Transplanting Later
Celosia
Start seedlings or transplant young plants into full sun. Celosia appreciates warm weather and provides strong color as temperatures continue rising.
Angelonia
Establish young plants in sunny beds or containers. Angelonia handles increasing heat well and can provide a long season of flowers.
Pentas
Transplant into sunny or lightly shaded garden spaces. Pentas provide clusters of flowers that are especially attractive to butterflies and other pollinators.
Moss Rose
Start or transplant into hot, sunny, well-drained locations. Moss rose is especially useful for containers and garden edges that dry quickly.
Torenia
Grow young plants for containers or partially shaded garden areas. Torenia offers warm-season color where protection from intense afternoon sun is helpful.
Salvia
Start or transplant salvias into sunny beds and containers. Their long-lasting flowers can help bring bees, butterflies, and other pollinators into the garden.
Periwinkle
Establish young plants in sunny, well-drained locations as temperatures warm. Avoid keeping the soil constantly wet.
Milkweed
Plant appropriate milkweed selections in sunny garden spaces where they can contribute to a pollinator-friendly landscape.
April Planting Notes
- April is firmly part of the Warm Season at the UrbanYardStead. Warm-season vegetables can now grow rapidly as days become longer and soil temperatures rise.
- Continue succession planting beans and other quick crops rather than planting the entire seed supply at one time. Smaller repeated plantings can extend harvests.
- Tomatoes and peppers planted now should be established before the most intense summer heat arrives. Keep young transplants evenly watered while their roots settle in.
- Sweet potato slips can begin going into warm soil. Large grow bags and containers can work well where loose garden soil is limited.
- Install supports for cucumbers, pole beans, tomatoes, and other climbing or sprawling plants before vines become difficult to manage.
- April's warmer weather can bring more insect activity. Check the undersides of leaves regularly for aphids, caterpillars, eggs, and other early signs of pest problems. UF/IFAS specifically recommends watching tender new growth for pests such as aphids this month.
- Add mulch around established plants to conserve moisture, suppress weeds, and reduce rapid drying as Florida's spring weather becomes hotter.
- Pots and grow bags can dry much faster than raised beds. Check soil moisture frequently and water according to the needs of the plant rather than following a rigid calendar.
- Flowers such as zinnias, cosmos, gomphrena, pentas, salvia, and sunflowers help add color while supporting pollinators around food-growing areas.